Child prostitution

2:55 pm

Mon May 7, 2012

50 Mayors urge online escort service to check ages

Mayors of nearly 50 cities across the country are urging Village Voice Media to require identification for people posting escort ads on its Backpage.com — an online ad service that has come under scrutiny from authorities for allegations that it's used to promote child prostitution.

In a letter sent Monday by the United States Conference of Mayors, the cities' leaders, including Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, say that authorities continue to find advertisements on Backpage.com that "reflect underage sex trafficking."

Backpage.com critics say the site is used to advertise underage prostitutes, often victims of sex trafficking.